Thoracometer.



H. A. WENTWORTH.

THORACOMETEB.

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1,205,826. Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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H. A. WENTWORTH.

THORACOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPF- I5. I914.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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HAROLD A. WENTWORTH, .OF NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNUB 0F ONE-HALF TO HENRY I-I. AUSTIN, OF"WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS.

THORACOIVIETER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed September 15, 1914. Serial No. 861,909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD A. WENT- won'rrr, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Natick, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Thoracometers, of which the following description,in connection with the accompanying drawings, in a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to machines for measuring and recording the physical development of the body and aims to produce a new machine for this purpose adapted for use by physicians or in gymnasiums, and I have termed it for convenience a thoracom: eter, or body caliper.

This invention may be best understood by reference to the drawings of one embodiment thereof, which I have selected for illustration and description herein, and in the drawings Figure 1 is a front view, showing also in dotted lines, thefigure of a person in position to be measured; Fig. 2, a rear view;

Fig. 3, a side view from the right, Fig. 1;

Fig. I, a plan view; Fig. 5, a transverse section on the line 5-5, Fig. 8; Fig. 6, a detail of one of the positioning arms; Figs. 7 and 8, details of one of the follower frames, and Fig. 9, a detail of the recording member. Fig. 10, a perspective view of one of the caliper members.

Referring first to Fig. 1, my improved thoracometer comprises a base 1 having a platform 2 thereon,both of suitable material as metal. From the base a frame rises Fig.

3 consisting ofthe upright 3, a cross beam at and, Fig. 2, a plurality, herein two, upright members 56, connected by a cross member 7 at their-upper ends, and to which the member 4 is suitably secured as by screws or bolts 8. Obviously the frame for convenience, in so far asthe upright 3 and cross member a are concerned, may be constructed of one piece of material, as channel iron bent as shown. The uprights 5 and 6 and cross member 7, .may also be conveniently constructed ofone piece ofjT iron as herein shown. Adjacent the upright member 3, Fig. 3, I have provided a supporting and guiding rod 9 for supporting a plurality of, herein three, body positioning arms 10, one of which, and herein the lower one, is adapted to contact and support the ankle of the person to be measured, while the second or middle one is adapted to support the thigh, and the third or upper one is adapted to engage and support the shoulder. In Fig. 6, one o-f these positioning arms is shown in detail and it comprises a block 10 having two curvilinear ends 11 and 12, the former of which is drilled vertically to receive the rod 9,-while the latter is drilled transversely to receive the arm 10 provided at its outer end with a yoke 14. The block 10 is provided with looking screws 1516 by means of which the block itself may be locked in adjusted position upon the rod 9 and the arm 10 may be locked in suitable transverse position with the yoke 14 contacting with the body and thus assist the patient to assume and maintain an upright position. Slidably mounted upon the T- 'shaped uprights 5 and 6 is a carrier 17 for the follower or caliper member, to be described, having a tongue and groove connection with the members 5 and G by means of shoes 18, each of whicliis adapted to travel on one of the flanges of the upright members 5 and (3. This carrier is balanced by the weight 19, see Fig. 2, suspended by a suitable cord or chain 19" from a pulley 20 on the cross member 7.

For reproducing an outline or delineation of the body, I have provided what I have termed a plurality of, and herein two, follower or caliper members 21 and 21, see Figs. 1, 3, l, 5, 7, and 8, from which the desired measurements can be obtained. These followers each consist, Figs. 1, 7, 8 and 10, of a plurality of, and herein two, rigid rectangular frames 22 and 23, comprising respectively the rods a, b, c, and (Z, c, 7", each frame pivotally mounted on follower supporting rods 2e25, secured to the carrier 17. These frames are pivotally connected at their upper edges by a third, rigid three-sided body following frame 26 comprising the rods g, h, 2', provided with an arm 27, carrying at its end a follower roller 28 and a second arm 29 at the opposite end bearing a suitable recording member .30. This recordingmember, see Fig. 9, may consist of a holder or cylinder 30.carrying a pencil or crayon clamping band 81 and a member 30 but-permitting the pencil to be drawn into and retained in the holder 30 by '23, inwardly toward the patient, see Figs.

1 and 7, and thereby causes the roller 28 to remain in close contact wlththe body. A similar follower or caliper member 21 is provided at the'opposite end of the carrier 17 and adapted to be similarly used on the back of the body for recording the outline thereof,

The members 5-6, carry at or near their upper ends, brackets 8839 suitably secured thereto and these brackets carry at their outer ends a roll of paper or other suitable recording material 40. Below the roll A0 and suitably secured to the members 5 and 6, is a recording board 41 provided at its upper and lower ends, respectively, with tension rolls 4l248, back of which the strip of paper from the roll 40 is confined in convenient position for use in connection with the recording member 30. Below the roller 13 and conveniently positioned with respect thereto is a severing member A4: conveniently mounted as upon the uprights 5, 6, against which the strip of paper may be pressed and severed at the desired point.

The use of my improved machine is as follows: The carrier 17 and its followers 21 and 21 are first raised substantially to the top of the machine. The patient then, clothed only in an athletic suit or underclothes that fit closely to the body, steps upon the platform 2 and the rollers 28 of the respective followers are positioned one just beneath the chin, and the other at the back of the neck and are then caused, by a gentle pressure inwardly and downwardly on the followers 21, and21, to follow closely the outlines of the body as the carrier 17 travels down the members 5 and 6, the weight 19 substantially balancing the weight of the followers 21 and 21. While the followers may be carried down to the feet, if desired, it is customary only to take the delineation in this manner to the lower end of the torso, as the measurements of the limbs themselves are usually more conveniently made with a tape measure.

Claims:

1. A thoracometer comprising a stand, a

, follower supporting member thereon, a follower to travel over the surface of a body comprising a plurality of frame members pivotally connected and movable on the supporting member, one of the frame members adapted to rest against and travel over the body and provided with a recording member for recording the body outline.

2. A thoracometer comprising a stand, a plurality of follower supporting members thereon, a carrier for said supporting members, a plurality of followers each comprismg a plurality of frame members pivotally connected and movable on the supporting members, one of the frame members of each follower adapted to rest against and to be moved over a relatively opposite side of the body, and provided with a recordingmember for recording a relatively opposed body outline.

3. A thoracometer having a carrier, a follower thereon adapted to be moved over the body, follower supporting members on said carrier, a plurality of rigid frame members pivotally mounted'on said supporting members, a rigid body following frame member having pivotal connection with the first named frames, and carrying a recording member. 7

1. A thoracometer comprising a carrier supporting member, a carrier thereon, a 01. lower on the carrier, follower supporting memberson said carrier, a plurality of rigid frame members pivotally mounted on said supporting members, a rigid body following frame member having a recording member and having pivotal resilient connection with the first named members, a body following and contacting member on the frame member resting against and adapted to follow the contour of the body.

5. A thoracometer comprising a stand, a

support thereon, a carrier movably mounted on the support, a follower on the carrier comprising a plurality of movably connected frames movably mounted on the carrier, two of the frames being in substantially parallel relation, said follower traveling as a unit over the body surface, one of the frames having a body contacting member adapted to follow the contour of the body, and means on said frame controlled by the body contacting member for recording the contour of it the body so traveled.

6. A thoracometer comprising a support, a carrier movably mounted thereon, a follower comprising a plurality of angularly movable angular frames connected near their corners movably mounted on the carrier and adapted to follow the contour of the body, means on the follower to record the contour of the body so followed, and means to retain said carrier in desired position relative to I the support. 7

7. A thoracometer comprising a support, a recording surface thereon, a carrier movably mounted on the support, a follower comprising a plurality of rectangular frames movably mounted near one of the edges thereof on the carrier, a roller at one corner of one frame adapted to follow the contour of the body, means on the opposite corner of the follower to record on the recording surface the contour of the body so followed, balancing means to retain the carrier in desired pogition, and a supporting member for the b y.

8. A device of the class described comprising the base 1, platform 2 thereon, upright members 3, 5 and 6 connected by cross members 4 and 7; the guide rod 9, body positioning arms thereon, having each a yoke 14, adjusting members 15, 16 on the arms 10; a carrier 17 movable on the upright members 5, 6, a balancing weight 19 for the carrier 17 and suitably connected therewith, a follower on each end of the carrier, the follower supporting members 24, 25, on said carrier, frames 22, 28 pivoted to the members 24, 25,

and connected by the frame 26, the last named frame provided with the roller 28 and recording member 30.

9. A thoracometer comprising a base 1 having a platform 2, uprights 3 and cross-beams 4 thereon, members 5, 6, a connecting cross member 7 therefor; supporting and guiding rod 9 on upright member 3, a plurality of positioning arms 10 on the member 9, each arm 4 having a block 10-, a yoke 14 and locking member 15 for the block 10 a carrier 17 adapted to travel on the members 5, 6, balancing weight 19 for the carrier suspended from the cross member 7 a plurality of follower members 21 on the carrier member 17, each follower member provided with a follower roller 28 and recording member 30. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HAROLD A. WENTWORTH. lVitnesses:

EVERETT S. EMERY,

ELIZABETH P. HILLIARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

